Grey water disposal?

We will be setting off on our maiden voyage soon, I think we are virtually ready. I am just unsure about the grey water disposal. Do I need a container to drain the tank into for disposal or will there be a drain that I park over?

Cheers,

SJR

This will depend where you are based ... some sites have "drive over drains" just like a normal street drain in which case there is no problem. Some may be situated in such a manner that you require a short length of hose to divert the waste into a drain. If you are stationary for several days and don't want to move the van, drain it into a bucket and then dump it at a suitable receptacle. Some upmarket sites may even have a dedicated waste point on your hard standing. If all else fails, a street drain in a suitable lay-by en route could be used .... after all it is likely to be no more than soapy water .

BobK

Hello SJR, good luck and happy motoring. I put a small capful of disinfectant down the sink before using the grey water tank, then when it's drained it doesn't smell too bad if you have to leave it for a few days. I've also invested in a pair of manhole (personal access cover - for the pc brigade) keys for just a couple of quid - saves bending the screwdrivers - as some small sites have closed covers.

Don't forget the corkscrew!

Rich..

BobK wrote:If all else fails, a street drain in a suitable lay-by en route could be used .... after all it is likely to be no more than soapy water .

I suspect many of us have had to resort to this at some time or another, but just to point out that in strict terms it is not really acceptable to do this as such drains are for storm purposes, not linked to the sewers. The general public can also 'get the wrong end of the stick' sometimes when seeing any form of dumping of fluids so it's best to be avoided.

Bartfarst

Hi there,

Somewhere on this Forum we read about using "Tesco Best Concentrated Orange Cordial" at about 29p a litre. We chuck about a quarter bottle down the sink after we have emptied the waste tank and have never had any smells.

A mate of mine, looking around Petal for the first time, noted the waste tank system and reminded me of the good old days when every caravan carried a bucket with a small hole in the bottom! Positioned beneath the waste-water outlet it looked very effective on site and seldom needed emptying!!

With regard to emptying the tank on Petal when wild camping I find that most lay-byes have drains on them and I have no compunction about dropping the grey water tank into them. What we put down the drain pales into insignificance when you look at the litter and road-kill that ultimately finds it's way there!!

Best regards,

I'm probably going to get flamed for this. But here goes anyway. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The French view is that what we call 'grey water' is waste water from personal hygene and kitchen use. It's water, it goes in the ground. If you want to do something really useful, dump it on the hedge or on a flower bed. In more arid places to waste such water would be regarded as almost criminally foolish.

Now this worries me, because I don't (on principle) like agreeing with the French. '' But my view is, Yep it's water, get on with it. What I don't do is leave it in the tank any longer than absolutely necessary nor do I put anything in it (disinfectant for example) that would affect plant life. A good mate of mine from up the pub is a retired plant scientist with a Doctorate in cereal genetics. Every drop of domestic waste water generated by his household finds it's way via a Heath-Robinson system of pipes and syphons onto his garden. His plants win prizes.

OK, so the waste water tank needs an occasional clearing out with something fairly aggressive to get rid of the grease and soap residues. That DOES go down the drain.

Down here in the softy, drought stricken South East using grey water for watering the garden is fairly common practice nowadays and one soon aquires the palate for Imperial Leather flavour peas.

Cheers John.

I picked up this tip from Wildcamping forum.
Get a plastic carrier bag fill it with grass from the hedgerow, stab holes in the base and tie on to the end of the grey waste pipe, the grass will catch all the bits and pieces and the grey water will sink away. to dispose tie up bag and dump in bin.

plattypus wrote:I picked up this tip from Wildcamping forum.
Get a plastic carrier bag fill it with grass from the hedgerow, stab holes in the base and tie on to the end of the grey waste pipe, the grass will catch all the bits and pieces and the grey water will sink away. to dispose tie up bag and dump in bin.

Hi Roger,
At the Shows, many moons ago, a stand was selling a plastic pipe fitting to do the same thing (don't know if they sold any, as you could buy the bits yourself) .... the plastic bag idea is much better
Brian

plattypus wrote:I picked up this tip from Wildcamping forum.
Get a plastic carrier bag fill it with grass from the hedgerow, stab holes in the base and tie on to the end of the grey waste pipe, the grass will catch all the bits and pieces and the grey water will sink away. to dispose tie up bag and dump in bin.

What a great idea, I just learnt sumfing!! Thanks.

Mrs Eggnog's suggestion this was - not mine. A length cut off of a ladies stocking (Ooh, er, Missus [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]) tied over the outlet tap works a treat as a filter.

It has to be black, of course.''

eggnog wrote:Mrs Eggnog's suggestion this was - not mine. A length cut off of a ladies stocking (Ooh, er, Missus [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]) tied over the outlet tap works a treat as a filter.

It has to be black, of course.''

Not 'Fish-net' tights then

Brian

a very amusing set of posts!

on my scout camps we've always used the grass / straw / hay method for straining grey water, collected it in a bucket and watered the hedges.

i didn't know about the tights / stocking bit tho' - sounds an ideal way of filtering for meevan - well done mrs eggnog.

trish

Hi All,
We have a fine strainer on the kitchen sink drain ( cost £1 I think) it stops most but not quite all of the rubbish in grey water, as we use a small plastic wash up bowl to save water but of course if you use the sink you will have whip it in quick when you pull the plug out.
When I first got it about 2 years ago it suprised me just how much it collected, particularly scrambled egg and similar foods. But in spite of this I do like the idea of the bucket with a hole in it,but it is just 1 more item to find a home for when on the road, so the plastic bag strainer may be a better idea.



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Brian

Hi All,
Recent discusion on grey water disposal has prompted me to produce a filter which will fit the standard AS tap. this uses 2 of the garden ties mentioned below attached with cable ties to fasten round the tap, a piece of washing machine hose, and a popsock or the foot of a pair of tights. I dont think even the smallest food particals will get through that.

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This poses another question, does anyone else use them, for those who havent seen them before they are garden plant ties which I use as removable cable ties very useful for some purposes.


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